Keen to ease the problem faced by Islanders trying to access NHS dentists, MP Bob Seely has called on the Government to take action to increase the number of dentists.
During a parliamentary debate on Monday (7 February) Mr Seely explained how it was ‘almost impossible’ for Islanders to access an NHS dentist if they were not already registered with one.
Speaking in the House of Commons he said: “Islanders are facing a serious dentistry issue. I have raised this with the previous Minister and the Secretary of State on a number of occasions.
“Frankly, it is now almost impossible to find an NHS dentist on the Island if you do not already have one. Some Islanders have written to me about having to go into the mainland as far as Surrey. That stretches a family budget, because we have some of the most expensive ferries on the planet, so it is a painful decision.”
The Island’s MP went on to raise concerns about the dangers of not being able to access a dentist early enough.
“In 2020, 2,700 Brits lost their lives to mouth cancer. The lack of dental appointments means that we will not be able to spot those cancers early on, so those figures are likely to increase.”
He said, according to the British Dental Association, 75 percent of dental practices were struggling to fill vacancies.
Mr Seely went on to make a number of suggestions to Health Minister Maria Caulfield as follows:
- Introduce a section 60 order to increase the General Dental Council’s discretion on recognising overseas dental qualifications.
- Develop a 12-month UK adaptation course for experienced, qualified overseas dentists to gain GDC recognition.
- Maintain the mutual recognition of professional qualifications with European economic area countries indefinitely, and we should extend it to overseas territories, potentially as part of future free trade agreements.
- Fund a catch-up programme of overseas registration exams to make up for missed opportunities during the pandemic, with a view to recruiting 1,000 additional dentists within 12 months.
- Introduce an expedited six-month performers’ list validation by experience programme for candidates with more than 1,500 hours of dental experience.
- Accelerate changes to dental therapists’ scope of practice to allow courses of treatment without prescription from a dentist.
He concluded his speech saying: “The NHS was established on three significant and unalienable principles: that it meets the needs of everyone; that it is free at the point of delivery; and that it is based on clinical need, not the ability to pay. Certainly, with NHS dentistry, we are struggling.
“We see that not only in kids’ and adults’ teeth being untreated but in serious diseases not being recognised as a result, potentially costing us far more not only in lives but in the money spent when cases come in as an NHS emergency, rather than as dental treatment that should be part and parcel of everyone’s rights in this country.”
Speaking after the debate he said: “I recognise the issues Islanders are facing with accessing dental care. This is a national issue, but it is compounded on the Isle of Wight.
“This is not something that will get better by itself, it needs Government intervention, and I will continue, with colleagues, to press the Government to take meaningful action to address the issues we highlighted.”
